TracyLH

We are in the midst of planning our trip in April. So many of you are so much more seasoned than we are, so I am hoping we are on the right plan with 3 nights in Munich (we added an extra day to do a day trip out to Neuschwanstein Castle), 2 in Salzburg and 2 in Vienna. Does this sound about right to get a feel for each city? My research here on Fodor's shows that more time in Salzburg is not neccessarily needed, but we might be able to add a day onto Vienna you all recommend that idea.

Also, if anyone knows of a 'must do' day trip that can be done by train/bus (no car) from any of these cities, recommendations would be sincerely appreciated! Thanks very much for your time and expertise!

annhig

hi tracey,

IMHO you are spreading yourselves too thin. in 7 nights, I would pick 2 out of these three - Munich and Salzburg OR Salzburg and Vienna.

you'll spend too long travelling between them which will limit the time you'll have there - really 2 nights equates to only one day. Salzburg itself may not have sights for more than one day, possibly two, but there are lovely day-trips into the mountains and around the lakes.

regards, ann

TracyLH

Thanks, Ann! You have some excellent points! I do agree with you that we are spreading ourselves too thin, but this is likely our only chance to visit this area and am really hoping to see all three cities (plus these three cities are the way the travel arrangements are). Luckily, we are very good at hitting the ground running (led more by my husband than I), but I agree with you that this is a bit too fast-paced. Although I really agree with your idea and personally would prefer it, the three cities are pretty set. It is just a matter of figuring out the amount of time in each so we don't cut ourselves too terribly short. I do appreciate your advice though and wish we could do what you are saying, but these three cities are pretty much set in stone. It is a matter of seeing how many days to add on as per recommendations. Thanks though, Ann! Wish we could do it your way!

annhig

hi tracey,

well i get your problem. Mine is a husband who will just explore every little lane and street no matter how dingy and dull looking - we all have our crosses to bear.

so if your destinations are set, your timing looks fine. I just don't see how you are going to have time for day-trip in Salzburg and Vienna, with only 2 nights in each.

good luck,

regards, ann

TracyLH

Thanks, Ann! Mine is actually kind of a speed traveller. Basically, Mona Lisa from across the hall - "Check!", as he puts it. However, although I hobble at the end of the day from hoofing it at very rapid pace, I will say I see more of any city than I would otherise! :0) My goal is eventually get him to slow down to have a glass of wine in the middle of the day as that would be an accomplishment!

I agree that there is not enough time as it stands to add on a day trip. If we did a day trip, we will add on that needed day (much like we are doing with the castle). It is just a matter of where to go based on recommendations.

Jean

What are your must-sees in Salzburg?

If you got an early start from Munich, you could be in Salzburg well before noon. Spend one night and finish up your sightseeing the next morning, then train to Vienna in the early afternoon. That would give you three nights in Vienna which to me would be the absolute minimum for such a treasure-filled city.

TracyLH

Thanks, Jean! This is what I am looking for! As for Salzburg, we could go with your idea and get in early, go to the Cathedral, fortress, do a walking tour to inlude Mozart's residence and (hopefully too many won't laugh at this), do the Sound of Music tour as I hear you see some lovely areas. Finish up the next morning and head to Vienna or slow down a bit and stay the two nights in Salzburg and add one more to Vienna. I really appreciate the recommendation to get three nights in Vienna as that really helps me to make sure I am not cutting it too close. Thanks!

Cathinjoetown

I agree with Jean to try to find extra time for Vienna. I haven't "done" the Sound of Music tour but I understand the main advantage is you get to see one or more of the lakes.

If you are pressed for time, it's easy to see on your own the Mirabel Gardens, Nonnberg Nunnery and the many fountains and murals in the old town that Julie A. and the kids danced around.

momofrajah

Hi Tracy -

Did this trip myself this summer and would definitely add time on the Vienna end of the trip. I'd probably cut a night out of Munich - it was certainly a nice city, but pales beside Vienna. Salzburg is great fun not only for the S of M tour, but for its smaller, compact town feel.

Going from your description of the hubby, you could see the center of Munich (old town, Frauenkirche, City Hall and after the glockenspiehl (please ignore spelling errors!!) goes off, have lunch in one of the beer gardens behind the open air markets, then split up for the afternoon based on individual interests (ie I went to the Alte Pinothek while others in the group went shopping, or out to the Nymphenburg Palace.)

Day 2 sounds like you've already planned a day trip to Neuschwanstein. Eat dinner in the countryside or hit a beerhall back in Munich.

Day 3 - leave for Salzburg - you'd be there by noon with no problem. Spend the afternoon walking around - enjoying the town. (Be sure and take the funicular to the castle over the town - a great place for an afternoon rest and drink overlooking the town.

Day 4 - do the Sound of Music tour and enjoy the area - you'll find yourself twirling and singing in front of every landmark possible.

Day 5 -6 7- Vienna

too many wonderful things to see, so it's up to your tastes. Schoenbrunn Palace is an easy way to fill up half a day, as is the Belvedere with the great Klimt's. Try and find a concert at least one night - there are free choral and orchestral groups almost every night in various churches. Vienna is a very walkable city - just head to St Stephen's and take off in any direction for fun!

Jean

TracyLH, I'm sure some will disagree, but we were a bit underwhelmed by the Salzburg fortress. We did enjoy the Marionette Museum (more the size of an exhibit), the Princes' Chambers, Fortress Museum and, of course, the views of the city. (Evening concerts are held in one of the larger rooms.) The view from the highest part of the fortress is accessible only on the guided tour (additional fee) which was interesting but ate up some time. We actually preferred the views of the city from the other end of the Monchsberg where the modern art museum and a lovely city park are located (accessible by elevator from the street below). There's a cafe on the terrace.

http://www2.salzburg.info/

TracyLH

Oh! You are helping me SO much! Thankyou! Thankyou! Not just for the suggestions on # of days, but for the great insight as to what to see/best views, etc. Your help is SO appreciated!

With adding a day on in Vienna, and a few possible day trips I discovered, our itinerary looks like this:

Fri. - overnight flight to Munich
Sat - arrive Munich, check in, see town
Sun - full day in Munich or day trip to Nurnberg(?)
Mon - do day trip for castles
Tues a.m. - off to Salzburg, check in , see town
Wed. - full day in Salzburg
Thurs - a.m. to Vienna, check in, see town
Fri - full day in Vienna
Sat. - full day in Vienna or day trip to do boat trip on Danube(?)
Sun. - back to Munich to fly home

Thanks for your suggestions! I added the day in Vienna to give us two full days with the possibility of the day trip for a boat ride on the Danube if my husband has already made sure we have "Check!"-ed everything off at that point. (He is the King of Efficient Sightseeing). Momofrajah, thanks for your suggestion to cut one day from Munich and giving me a heads up about that. I guess I am just concerned about rushing through as we would really only have the day that we arrive to see the town as we would then go to the castles the next day, but your point is well taken.

Has anyone been to Nurnberg? Based on what Momofrajah say, if we find that we have seen Munich faster than we expected with our current itinerary, that looks to be a day trip from Munich rather than cut a day from Munich. We would be going to see the Old Town as it is supposed to have a smaller city feeling and beautiful architecture. Does anyone have any thoughts on that?

Another thought - Has anyone done the day trip from Vienna to Melk? We can tour the abbey and take a 24 mile boat ride down the Danube to Krems and back to Vienna. It is supposed to be just lovely. Has anyone done that?

Thanks again for all of your help!!!

bob_brown

I agree with the others. For one thing you are not allowing for travel time.

I have been to Vienna twice and Salzburg at least 4 times. After two trips to Vienna, I am ready to admit that I needed more time.
I guess you could go there on a rush trip from Salzburg, run around the Hofburg, take a peek at the horses, and run back to Salzburg, but why?

I would NOT recommend a day trip to Vienna unless you left at 6 am and returned at 19:20.

Also why Neuschwanstein? It looks pretty but I found the inside to be a distinct letdown. Given the size of the castle, you see only a small percentage of the total space and the tour wastes no time in pushing you through so the next tour can follow. Linderhof was finished better, and Herrenchiemsee is a more completed castle although it too was not totally finished. Getting there however requires a boat ride on the lake.

TracyLH

Thanks, Bob! Travel time is a concern. Oh, we won't be doing a day trip to Vienna. That is a separate part of the trip. I agree with you that would be ludicrous. I don't care how fast my husband is :0) We are looking at three nights in Vienna and doing a possible day trip from Vienna to do the boat ride on the Danube.

We are planning to see both Neuschwanstein and Linderhof. Sorry, I just didn't type both. Thanks for the info on Herrenchiemsee Castle as I hadn't read about that one.

FrankS

Ann,
Maybe? just Munich and Vienna with a daytrip to Salzurg from Munich.

Robespierre

I am a great proponent of traveling in the evening, when the sights are shut down for the night. The drill goes like this:

o Check out of your hotel in the morning, and stash your luggage at the train station.

o Spend the rest of the day sightseeing, arriving at the station a half-hour before departure time.

o Relax and have dinner while riding to your next destination, check in, and sleep.

o Hit the ground refreshed early on the morrow.

Having said that - I don't know of enough to see and do in Salzburg to warrant an overnight there, much less two. Give some thought to spending four nights in München with day trips to Füssen and perhaps Dachau, check out of your hotel and head out early for Salzburg, where you dump your gear at the station, see the sights, and take the last train to Vienna for three nights.

Cowboy1968

I would second Robespierre's point of view.

Salzburg is a nice destination for a day trip but IMO one does not necessarily have to spend the night there.

If your train ticket from Munich to Vienna allows a stop-over (i.e. is a flexible ticket not bound to one specific direct train), you can easily get a taste of Salzburg by strolling around one day.
Leave the luggage at the station, walk to the city center (Mirabell gardens and castle along your way) in 15 minutes, visit Cathedral and Old Town, take the elevator up Mönchberg for a panoramic view, and have lunch somewhere in the Old Town. Take bus or taxi to Hellbrunn castle in the early afternoon, spend 2-3 hours there, return to the station and depart for Vienna.
Or spend more time in the Old Town in the afternoon, and visit Mozart's birthplace etc.

iris1745

Hi Tracy; I think you have adjusted your plans that will work, adding the extra day in Vienna. We have been to both Vienna and Salzburg three times and have enjoyed each visit. We would never do a disservice to Salzburg by running thru the city in a day. Stay the two nights planned. Do the Sound of Music tour. It's a fun tour. Go to a Mozart concert in the evening. Utilize many of the suggestions listed here. But for my 'two cents', you have the number of days in each city 'right on'. ENJOY Iris

iris1745

Hi Tracy; In Vienna our favorite Hotel is Konig von Ungarn. www.kvu.at/ The hotel is just of the 'old' square, behind St. Stephen's Cathedral. Iris

TracyLH

Thankyou everyone!!! Your help and suggestions are being well heeded and I am taking everything into account! Your tips on specific places to see are SO very helpful as well! Much, much appreciated! :0)

TracyLH

Good news! We don't have to go back to Munich as we fly home out of Vienna!